BluOnyx Mobile Content Server

Agere Systems will be launching the BluOnyx soon (news via newones.org). It’s a credit card-sized unit (and slightly thicker than a Motorola Razr) that stores data (music, pictures, video, e-mails) and can broadcast them to televisions, mobile phones, and computers. That’s the simple description. From the BluBlog:

There are 3 subsystems in the BluOnyx: The Storage Subsystem, The Application Processing Subsystem and the Connectivity Subsystem.

The Storage Subsystem can be made of either Hard Disk Drives or Flash chips. There are 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 10GB and 40GB storage options for the BluOnyx at different price points.

Prices will be announced when the products get closer to production. Agere Systems supplies a lot controllers and other chips for HDDs and hybrid drives that combine Flash and HDDs.

The Application Processing subsystem has our Application Processing Engine layered with whole bunch of software. We have embedded an open operating system called VxWorks and made it open to 3rd party developers who told us they want a free hand to bring innovative new applications to you. We have other software such as drivers, applications and middleware tying the whole thing together. The chipset in this subsystem includes the Application Processor and the power management chip both of which are from Agere Systems.

The Connectivity subsystem controls the interface to wifi, Bluetooth, SD card and USB 2.0. We are working on USB 2 GO.

There are a lot of questions I have that aren’t answered, but I’m sure they will when the product officially launches. It sounds like a good idea, to be able to back up your mobile phone or storage card, but it’s just another thing to lose.